Four new sites to be monitored for air quality
In the wake of wildfires that caused unhealthful air from the mountains to the sea, the region’s air quality board Friday expanded the monitoring network that allows the public immediate access to local smoke conditions.
At a cost of $225,000, the South Coast Air Quality Management District will add four new sites to the existing 14 that continuously report levels of airborne particulates, plus four mobile stations that can be deployed to smoky areas. The new sites will be Santa Clarita, Mission Viejo, Crestline and Temecula.
The data are automatically recorded and immediately available to the public through the AQMD website, informing residents whether it is safe to go outdoors or exercise.
AQMD officials said they responded to thousands of calls and web inquiries from concerned residents during the October fires.
The AQMD board Friday also honored 27 school districts, including the region’s two largest -- Los Angeles Unified and Long Beach Unified -- for taking precautions to protect children from the poor air quality during the fires. The schools either shut down or kept children indoors and canceled physical education and sports practices on days when particulates from the smoke were considered unhealthful.
Breathing smoke and ash can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks, respiratory infections and other serious health ailments.
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